Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunparapreho’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunparapreho’, characterized by its vining plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and medium-sized white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPARAPREHO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunparapreho’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and vining Mandevilla plants with numerous medium-sized attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from an open-pollination in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in October, 2009 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number 06M-28-09, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with an unknown proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in November, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since November, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunparapreho’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunparapreho’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Vining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Medium-sized white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla×amabilis ‘Sunparamiho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,868. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘Sunparamiho’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter lateral branches         with shorter internodes than plants of ‘Sunparamiho’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla were not as vigorous as plants         of ‘Sunparamiho’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller leaves than plants         of ‘Sunparamiho’.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Sunparamiho’.     -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter peduncles than         plants of ‘Sunparamiho’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunparapreho’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Sunparapreho’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late summer in 18-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunparapreho’.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number 06M-28-09, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown proprietary selection of             Mandevilla hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures             about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six             weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Vining plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 115 cm. Diameter:             About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; with             development, woody. Color, developing: Close to 143A tinted             with close to 165A. Color, woody: Close to N199A to N199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 144C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petiole length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.4 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in             axillary racemes; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about five flowers per inflorescence             and about 25 inflorescences developing per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from early summer to late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla             fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 6.6 cm. Depth (length): About 5.1 cm. Throat             diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About 4.2 cm. Tube             diameter, mid-section: About 9.8 mm. Tube diameter, base:             About 3.6 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: Towards the apex, close to 69A;             mid-section, close to 145D; towards the base, close to 145B.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated             tube. Petal lobe length: About 2.6 cm. Petal lobe width:             About 2.5 cm. Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex:             Rounded. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal             lobe texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             satiny. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: Petal lobe, when             opening, upper surface: Close to 69A to 69C. Petal lobe,             when opening, lower surface: Close to 69C to 69D. Petal             lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155C. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D. Throat:             Close to 17A; towards the petal lobes, close to 12B. Tube:             Mid-section and apex, close to N155A to N155B; towards the             base, close to 145C tinted with close to 180C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl, fused at the base; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal             length: About 6.5 mm. Sepal width: About 3.2 mm. Sepal             shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Sepal color: When developing, upper surface: Close to 144C             tinted with close to 180C. When developing, lower surface:             Close to 144C tinted with close to 180D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 144C tinted with close to 180A. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 144C tinted with close to             180B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Color: Close to 137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Obliquely upright. Color:             Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,             connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.8             mm by 9.2 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Style color:             Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color: Close to             145B. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed     to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to     about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunparapreho’ as illustrated and described. 